Dog Latin

Dog Latin, also known as Cod Latin, macaronic Latin, mock Latin, or Canis Latinicus,[1] refers to the creation of a phrase or jargon in imitation of Latin,[2] often by "translating" English words (or those of other languages) into Latin by conjugating or declining them as if they were Latin words. Unlike the similarly named language gamePig Latin (a form of playful spoken code), Dog Latin is more of a humorous device for invoking scholarly seriousness. Sometimes "dog Latin" can mean a poor-quality genuine attempt at writing Latin.[3]

More often, correct Latin is mixed with English words for humorous effect or in an attempt to update Latin by providing words for modern items.

"Ave bossa nova, similis bossa seneca" is Sir Terry Pratchett's Latatian version of "Hail to the new boss, same as the old boss" and is a trilingual pun besides.

Dog Latin often appears in Adventure Time: for instance, the second season premiere "It Came from the Nightosphere" featured the spell, "Maloso vobiscum et cum spiritum", roughly translating to "May evil be with you and also with you spirit", an obvious play on the Latin phrase "Dominus vobiscum...", used in the Roman Catholic mass. Furthermore, the fifth season episode "Play Day" featured an engraving that read, ""Butyrum lac surepo [sic] Kee Oth Pradium [sic]", which corresponds (albeit with spelling errors) to "Buttermilk, syrup, Kee Oth [the name of a character], breakfast."

^Notes and Queries. October 13, 1855. Retrieved January 16, 2010. Insofar as this specimen can be translated, it is as follows: "The conscript fathers (i.e. Senators) took a boat and went to Philippi. The boat was upset by a great hailstorm of wind. All drowned who could not swim away. There was a trumpeter, who had a scarlet coat, and a great periwig, tied about with the tail of a dead pig.

^Percival Leigh (1840). The comic Latin grammar. Retrieved January 16, 2010. The meaning here is "The storm rose up and overturned the boat" and "Except for John Periwig", etc.